Smoothing iron for asphalt roads



Jan. 1, 1924 1,479,597

c. A. Fous'r v SMOOTHING IRON FOR ASPHALT ROADS' Filed Dec. 2l. 1921 Wi tf1/e gers' Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES CHARLES A. FoUsT, oF GLENDALE, NEW YORK.

SMOOTHING IRON FOR VASIEHAL'I ROADS.

Application filed December 21, 19'21.

T all cli/0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. FoUsT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Glendale, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Smoothing Irons for Asphalt Roads, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to smoothing irons, and particularly to heatable smoothing irons for use on heatable plastic material, such as asphalt, in street or road building, and one object is to provide a smoothing iron of the character mentioned which is heated by means appurtenant to, or carried by the smoothing iron, and whereby the time necessary for heating the customary smoothing irons of this description, as by means of a heatingr furnace, is saved and may be devoted to eilicient use of the smoothing iron in its work.

Another object is to ,provide a smoothing iron of the character mentioned which is heated by electricity Another object is to provide such a smoothing. iron, which permits of rapid work with great saving of time and labor on the part of the operator of the iron and also lessens the number of operators required.

These and other objects of a like or kindred nature are accomplished by the invention, one embodiment of which by way of example is described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying rawings in which Figure 1, is a sectional side view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 2, is a sectional plan view on the line 22 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 3, is a element or filler.

Figure 4, is a detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction plan view of the insulator of the arrow.

Figure 5, is a detail sectional side view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Figure 6, is a detail sectional side view of the assembled device on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Similar reference characters denote similar parts throughout the several views.

The invention as shown comprises in its main parts or elements the head A, the handle B, of which only the lower portion ap- Serial No. 523,946.

pears, the insulator member C and the resistance coil D.

The head A is preferably of cast iron and has a flat top 10, a nose 11, anda smoothing bottom 12, the head A having avhollow or chamber-ed interior 13 open at its rear 0r handle end. The bottom 12 is rockeredk longitudinally, the bottom curving forwardly and upwardly from about the point indicated by to the nose 11, and curving upwardly from about the point a' to the rear end of the bottom for the purpose later stated. Transversely the bottom 12 is flat.

The head A is provided `at its rear end at the sides with the extensions 14y and 157 having therein the threadedv bolt holes 16 and 17.

The handle Bis provided with the yokelike lower end 18 having the .extensions 19 and 20 with holes 21 and 22 therethrough, the threaded ends of the bolts 23 and 24 passing through the holes 21 and 22 and engaging in the screw threaded holes 16 and 17 of the head A for removably securingthe handle'to the head. Insulating material25, such as asbestos or`transite, is arranged between the ends 14 and 15 of the head A and the extending ends 19 and 20 of the yoke'18 of the handle B.

The yoke-like end 18 andthe adjacent portion of the handle A preferably are curved, when viewed from the side, substantially as shown for the purpose later stated.

The insulator member or insulator block C is of refractory Vdielectric-material.which is conductive` of heat, preferably Valundum. The insulator block C when viewed Yas in Fig. 3, is oblong in shape, substantially conforming in width. and height to the interior 13 of the head A for insertion thereinbut in length does not occupy all of said interior at the respective ends thereof. The insulator yblock C comprises thev thinner lower portion 26 and the raisedpo'rtion 27, the raised portion being shorter than the lower portion.

he raised portion is provided with the series lof parallel longitudinal `bores 28, the axes of the bores 28 lying in the `central longitudinal planemof the insulator block, and a series of parallel versely through the insulator block from the upper tothe under side thereof and communicates with the bores 28, the bores 28 constituting means for distributing heat `from the insulator member or .insulator block C` bores 28 extends transto the head A, the bores 28 being intended to receive the resistance coil D The space at the forward end of the interior 13 between the forward end of the interior and the forward end of the `lower portion 26 of the insulator block (l, has arranged therein the insulating block 29 which extends upwardly for the full height of the interior 13 in the vertical line of the forward end of the block C, thereby providing the space or chamber 30, Figs. 5 and 6, in the interior 13. rEhe space at the rearward end of the interior 13 between the rearward end of the lower portion 26 has arranged therein the insulating block 31 which extends upwardly for the full height of the interior 13 in the vertical line of the rearward end of the block C, thereby providing the space or chamber 32 in the interior 13, the sides 33 and 34: of the insulating block 31 beine extended to bear against the adjacent aces of the insulating material 25 located between the head A and handle B, for preventing movement of the insulating blocks and insulator block C in the interior 13. The extended sides 33 and 34: of the insulating block 31 thus 'provide an open space or chamber 35 at the rearward end of the interior 13.

The insulating block 31 has near the sides thereof and extending therethrough the parallel holes 36 and 37, for wires, and has secured therein, between the holes 36 and 37, the binding` posts 38 and 39, the heads of which are located in said open space or chamber 35.

r1`he insulating blocks 29 and 31 preferably are of transite.

The resistance coil D is a continuous coil of wire, preferably of nichrome or chromium alloy. The lcoil D is passed through the series of bores 28 of the insulator block C in a series of reverse curves, the coil passing first in one direction and then in the opposite direction through the bores, the curved ends of the coil being located in the open spaces or chambers 30 and 32, and the wire at the respective ends of the coil being extended through the holes 36 and 37 in the insulating block 31, and secured to the respective binding posts 38 and 39. Suitable wires from a source of electricity are connected to the respective binding posts 38 and 39 for providing an electric Vcurrent through the coil D, these wires preferably being led through the handle B which is hollow for this purpose. Heat from the coilD is communicated to the insulator block C, which being of refractory dielectric material conductive of heat, the heat is distributed or transmitted to the head A., by the series of bores 28', the temperature being about 15000 F.

Itwill be noted that the longitudinally K curving under surface of the bottom 12 of l the head A, in operation, prevents the pilnarrate? ine' up and pushing forwardly of the heatable plastic material by smoothing iron, the smoothing iron riding over the material and, due to its heat and the flat surface of the bottom 12 transversely, melting the material and smoothing it out. 1n addition the curve of the bottom from about the point .73 rearwardly permits the nose of the head A to be tilted upwardly by downward pressure of the operator on the handle B, whereby the rearwardly curving portion provides a spreading smoothing finish for the plastic material.

Having thus described my invention, it should be understod that there may be modiications thereof and variations therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

W hat 1 claim and Letters Patent is 1. In a smoothing device, the combination of, a heatable head; and a member located within the head comprising heat generating means; said member being provided with a plurality of bores for receiving the heat generating means therein and a plurality of bores cooperating with the heat generating means for distributing heat therefrom to the head.

2, In a smoothing device, the combination of, a heatable head; and a member located within the head and enclosed thereby comprising heat generating means; said member being provided with a plurality of bores for receiving the heat generating means therein and a plurality of bores cooperating with the heat generating means for distributing heat therefrom to the head.

3. 1n a smoothing device, the combination of, a heatable head; and a member located within the head comprising heat generating means and means cooperating with the heat generating means for distributing heat from the generating means transversely thereof to the head.

4t. ln a smoothing device, the combination of, a heatable head; and a member located within the head and enclosed thereby comprising `heat generating means and means coopera-ting with the heat generating means for distributing heat from the generating means transversely thereof for heating the head.

5. lny a smoothing device, the combination of, a heatable head; and a dielectric member located within the head comprising electric heat generating means; said member being provided with means foi operatively receiving said heat generating means therein and means cooperating with said receiving means for distributing heat from the generating means to the head.

6. 1n a smoothing device, tion ofs, a heatable head; and a dielectric desire to protect by the nose of theV the combinamember located Within the head comprising electric heat generating means; said member being provided with means for operatively receiving said heat generating means therein and means cooperating With said receiving means for distributing heat from the generating `means transversely thereof to'the head.

T. fIn a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means for electrically heating the head; saidmeansv comprising a member of alunf dum disposed'within said head.4

8. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means for electrically heating the head; said means comprising a member ofreractory dielectric material disposed Wihin said head and arranged for distributing heat to the head.

9. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means for electrically heating t-he head; said means comprising a member of alundum disposed Within said head and arranged for distributing heat to the head.

10. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means for heating the head; said means comprising a member disposed Within said head, heat generating means appurtenent to said member, and means for distributing heat to the head from the generating means.

11. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means Within the head for heating the head; said means comprising a member disposed Within the head provided With bores for disposition of heat generating means therein and bores for distributing heat from said generating means to the head.

12. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means Within the head for heating the head; said means comprising a member disposed Within the head provided with longitudinal bores for disposition of hea-t generating means therein and transverse bores for distributing heat from said generating means to the head.

13. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means within the head for heating the head; said means comprising a member disposed Within the head provided with longitudinal bores for disposition of heat generating means therein and transverse bores for distributing heat from said generating means to the head, the transverse bores communicating with the longitudinal bores.

14. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means within the head for heating the head; said means comprising a member disposed within the head, heat generating means extending through said member, and means for distributing vheat fromfsaidfgenerating means to the head.

15. In a device :tor smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, ahead; and means for heating the head; said means comprising amember disposed in said head, heat generating means extending through the interior of said head and extending through said member first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and means for distributing heat from said generating means to the head.

16. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, thek combination of, ahead and means for heating the head; said means comprising a member disposed in said head providedy With longitudinal bores, heat .generating means extending through said bores, and means for distributing heat from said generating means to the head.

17. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material,'the combination of, a head; and means for' heating the head; said means comprising a member disposed in said head provided'with longitudinal bores and transverse'bores communicating With the longitudinaly bores, and heat generating means disposed in the longitudinal bores.

18. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means for electrically heating the head; said means comprising a member of refractory dielectric material disposed Within the head, a resistance coil appurtenant to said member, and means for distributing heat from the resistance coil to said head.

19. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means for electrically heating the head; said means comprising a member of refractory dielectric material disposed Within the head, a resistance coil continuously extending through said member, and means for distributing heat from the resistance coil to said head.

20. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head; and means for electrically heating -the head; said means comprising a member of refractory dielectric material disposed Within the head provided With longitudinal bores and transverse bores communicating With the longitudinal bores, and a resistance coil continuously extending through said longitudinal bores.

21. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of a head; and means for electrically heating the head; said means comprising a member of refractory dielectric material disposed Within the head provided With longitudinal bores and transverse bores communicating with the longiti'idinal bores, there being space in the interior of the head at the ends of said member, and a continuous resistance coil extending by reverse curves through said space and extending through the longitudinal bores ot said member.

22. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head provided with a nose and a smoothing bottom surface and having a hollow interior; means for operating said head; a member of refractory dielectric material arranged in said interior and having longitudinal bores therethrough; a resistance coil extending continuously through said bores Jirst in one direction and then in the opposite direction; and means for supplying electricity to said coil.

23. In a device 'for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head provided with a nose and a smoothing bottom surface and having a hollow interior; means for operating said head; a member ot refractory dielectric material arranged in said interior and having therethrough longitudinal bores and transverse bores communicating with the longitudinal bores; insulating means arranged in said interior forwardly of said member and insulating means arranged in said interior rearwardly of. said member; a resistance coil extending continuously through said longitudinal bores first in one direction and then in the opposite direction; and means for supplying electricity to said coil.

24C. In a device for smoothing heatable plastic material, the combination of, a head provided with a nose and a smoothing bottom surface rockered longitudinally and flat transversely, the head having a hollow in terior; means for operating said head; a member of refractory dielectric material ar ranged in said interior and having therethrough longitudinal bores and transverse bores communicating with the longitudinal bores; insulating means arranged in said interior forwardly of said member and insulating material arranged in said interior rearwardly or" said member; a resistance coil extending continuously through said longitudinal bores lirst in one direction and then in the opposite direction; and means for supplying electricity to said coil.

CHARLES A. FOUST.

Witnesses:

GUSTAVE SMITH, JOHN A. SUTAY. 

